Can correct breathing help solve weight problems?
MANILA, Philippines - Many have tried countless ways to lose weight but to no avail. But the secret to weight control is really no secret. It’s effective metabolism, which, according to an Australian expert, can be achieved simply through correct breathing that the body can be trained to do.
It’s not that simple, though, as most people do not breathe normally because of the effects of stressful socioeconomic and environmental living conditions.
“It all boils down to the body’s chemical processes, which are substantially influenced by the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in one’s physiology,” says Jac Vidgen, a senior practitioner of the Buteyko method of breathing.
The method was developed by Dr. Konstantin Buteyko, a Russian respiratory physician who discovered that the stresses of modern living have made people chronically overbreathe.
“This hyperventilation creates imbalances in the body’s oxygen-carbon dioxide levels, ironically causing reduced oxygen supply to the cells, and resulting in such symptoms as stress, asthma, rhinitis, excess mucous, sleep and anxiety disorders, allergies, chronic bronchitis, migraine, hypertension, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and weight problems, among many others,” notes Vidgen, who was trained by leading Buteyko protégé Alexander Stalmaski.
Now based in Bangkok, Vidgen has been working with the Buteyko breathing method since 1993 and is coming to Manila to conduct free introductory lectures on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the PhilDHRRA Partnership Center, 59 C. Salvador St., Loyola Heights, Quezon City; on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the In Touch Community Services, second floor, Holy Trinity Church complex, 48A McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City; and on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Sustainable Living Club, second floor, Highway 54 Bldg., (across SM Megamall), EDSA corner Stanford St., Mandaluyong City.
Quoting the late Dr. Buteyko, Vidgen says, “The real disease behind all those symptoms is the hyperventilation syndrome, or the disease of deep breathing that results in inappropriate loss of carbon dioxide and consequent metabolic disturbances in the body.”
The Buteyko Method works by providing a structure of education, behavior modification, and breathing exercises to achieve specific physiological objectives such as overcoming acute symptoms by using the natural dilating effects of carbon dioxide, preventing symptoms and attacks by normalizing carbon dioxide levels in the body and hence reducing the need for medication, reconditioning and normalizing the breathing pattern by reeducating the brain’s breathing center to accept normal levels of carbon dioxide, and increasing self-confidence through greater understanding of one’s health condition.
Among the many health benefits from the Buteyko Method are weight loss; improved skin tone and complexion; immediate relief from the symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, sleep and anxiety disorders, hay fever, coughing, and stress; and short and long-term benefits for emphysema, COPD, migraine, chronic bronchitis, allergies, digestive disorders, hypertension, immune and hormone function, skin disorders, and weight control.
Buteyko also enhances performance in sports activities.
For more details, e-mail jacvid@gmail.com or text 0919-6356060.
